Each year, more and more restaurants seem to be staying open on Thanksgiving to offer plated dinners or buffets, and 2014 is no exception. There's a smorgasbord of Turkey Day dining-out options, running the gamut from lux to laid-back. Here are a few that might whet your appetite.
Maybe a trip to Brazil is in order. Three local churrascarias will be open and serving special Thanksgiving menus in addition to their regular churrasco offerings: Rodizio Grill (Salt Lake City, 801-220-0500; American Fork, 801-763-4946, RodizioGrill.com), Texas de Brazil (Salt Lake City, 385-232-8070, TexasdeBrazil.com) and Tucanos Brazilian Grill (Salt Lake City, 801-456-2550; Provo, 801-224-4774, Tucanos.com).
At Faustina (Salt Lake City, 801-746-4441, FaustinaSLC.com), Chef Joe Kemp will cook up a four-course dinner, which includes entree choices of roasted turkey, Prime rib or a bone-in pork chop with all the accoutrements. The cost is $45 per person, and managing partner Tyler Jolley will offer specially paired wine selections for an additional $20.
Over at Franck's (Holladay, 801-274-6264, FrancksFood.com), a four-course feast will be on tap, including sous vide duck leg basteeya, six-day brined turkey breast, sage-braised Colorado lamb short ribs and many more gourmet menu options. The cost is $55 per adult and $25 for children 12 and under.
At The Grand America, Thanksgiving Day Grand Brunch is already sold out. However, you can still reserve a table in The Garden Cafe (Salt Lake City, 801-258-6708, GrandAmerica.com) for the Thanksgiving Day Prix Fixe Dinner. The three-course meal offers roasted butternut squash salad; a choice of entrees (slow-roasted Prime rib, lobster pot pie, grilled pork tenderloin or roasted turkey & fixings); plus a dessert buffet. The dinner is $39 for adults, $15 for children ages 5-11 and free for children 4 and under.
Located at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Sandy and situated on 20 elegant acres, La Caille (801-942-1751, LaCaille.com) is a special place to celebrate any holiday. On Thanksgiving Day, Chef Billy Sotelo will cook up a three-course meal for guests. It will include a choice of pear salad or pumpkin soup for starters; Mary's free-range roasted turkey, maple-glazed King salmon or slow-roasted Prime rib as entree choices; and a selection of desserts, and costs $59 for adults, $32 for children 4-12 and $10 for children under 4.
At Millcreek Canyon's Log Haven (Salt Lake City, 801-272-8255, Log-Haven.com), Chef Dave Jones' four-course plated luncheon is completely booked already for Thanksgiving Day, so I won't taunt you with the menu details. However, you can request to be put on a cancellation list.
Looking to add a little French flair to your Thanksgiving meal? Look no further than The Paris Bistro (Salt Lake City, 801-486-5585, TheParis.net), where Eric DeBonis and his talented team will be serving their 14th-annual Thanksgiving dinner. It begins with wild chanterelle mushroom flatbread, continues with a choice of roasted pumpkin soup or mesclun salad, and the main event is Utah Wight Family Farms free-range roasted turkey with an array of delectable accoutrements. Dessert is a choice of pumpkin cheesecake with roasted chestnuts or caramelized-apple-stuffed crepes with Calvados and crème fraîche. The cost is $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for children under 8.
Tuscany (Salt Lake City, 801-277-9919, TuscanySLC.com) will host a three-course dinner on Thanksgiving, beginning with a choice of butternut squash bisque or house green salad. Entree options include herb-roasted turkey and honey-glazed ham, plus traditional sides. For dessert, there is housemade apple, pecan and pumpkin pie. The meal is $45 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under.
Up in Park City, Thanksgiving dining options range from economical to opulent, with something to please every budget and palate. The Montage's Apex restaurant (435-604-1300, MontageHotels.com) will feature a Thanksgiving Day buffet with fresh salads and soups, chilled shellfish, a carvery serving herb-roasted turkey breast, peppercorn-crusted Prime beef tenderloin, rosemary-roasted leg of lamb; and chili-glazed cedar-plank salmon; plus a dozen different desserts. The cost is $75 for adults, $30 for children 5-12 and free for kids 4 and younger.
The new Brass Tag restaurant (435-645-6632, DeerValley.com/TheBrassTag) at Deer Valley Resort will offer Thanksgiving dinner for two ($48 per person), from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, Nov. 30. The gourmet meal includes roasted butternut squash and arugula salad, turkey breast roulade, brick-oven Brussels sprouts with Niman Ranch bacon, Deer Valley caramelized garlic-whipped Yukon Gold potatoes, shiitake mushroom & green bean casserole and finishes with skillet pumpkin pie with lemon whipped cream and cheddar-cheese-crusted apple pie. À la carte options are also available.
Cicero's (435-649-5044, Ciseros.com) is offering a two-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu ($25-$29) which begins with soup or salad. Entree choices include traditional turkey, Prime rib and Utah Steelhead trout. Dessert is à la carte. ($7).
Park City's Eating Establishment (435-649-8284, TheEatingEstablishment.net) offers one of the best Thanksgiving Day deals, with lunch priced at $14.95 per person and dinner at $21.95. You'll get the Eating Establishment's casual, friendly atmosphere along with oven-roasted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, fresh cranberry relish, warm apple pie and more.
Stein Eriksen Lodge's Glitretind (435-645-6455, SteinLodge.com) will roll out its opulent Thanksgiving Day buffet, which includes traditional turkey and sides along with grilled lamb T-bone, braised veal short ribs, roasted Arctic char, Stein's Grand Dessert display, live music and much, much more. It costs $75 for adults, $25 for children 5-12 and is free for kids 4 and younger.
Hans Fuegi and his crew at Park City's Grub Steak (435-649-8060, GrubSteakRestaurant.com) will feature a prix fixe menu that's $28.75 for adults and $14.75 for children under 12. The meal opens with butternut squash and McIntosh apple soup, and includes roasted tom turkey with traditional sides, plus pumpkin pie and vanilla-bean whipped ice cream or warm spiced apple bread pudding with bourbon sauce.
Finally, Powder at the Waldorf Astoria Park City (435-647-5566, ParkCityWaldorfAstoria.com) will host a Thanksgiving buffet with fruits, salads and assorted cold selections, a seafood station, soups, braised beef short ribs, Loch Duart King salmon, herb-crusted Prime rib, honey-clove glazed ham and roasted turkey with cranberry-orange compote. The cost is $65 for adults and $25 for children 3-11.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
